Topic: thinking of buying a freelander..any advice (Read 1349 times)

nellyscossy · « **on:** March 05, 2009, 19:00:53 »

hi there i am thinking of buying a freelander as the family motor..

i dont need to tow with it or use it off road....

i know about the head problem with the 1.8...did they sort that out on later models????

like i say any advice as to known weak points would be appreciated

many thanks

neil

TDi90 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2009, 20:04:12 »

just dont.

daggie · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2009, 20:28:54 »

2nded ignore at your peril :lol:

TDi90 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2009, 21:30:10 »

Quote from: daggie on March 05, 2009, 20:28:54

2nded ignore at your peril :lol:

;) :)

SteveGoodz · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2009, 21:33:48 »

I read somewhere that Land Rover reckon they can't do anything about the head problem as the head in question is attached to the neck of the owner and therefore outside of their control :dance: :dance:

propes · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2009, 21:47:23 »

seriously dont!!!

mill2020 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2009, 21:47:38 »

In response to to your initial post Neil, I'd suggest a you go for a diesel if possible either the 2.0 Rover diesel (Upton 2000) or the (BMW) Td4 are acceptable, with the Td4 being slightly more refined and also chain driven - so no cam belt worries there.
Having said all that i know many petrol owners 1.8 & 2.5 who swear by them and yes LR did offer a Head gasket mod to many owners, so there should be a record of this in the service history (something else to look for!)

Aside from that go through normal procedures of checking stuff like electrics, tyres, suspension, accident damage etc and have a look underneath at the drivetrain, there are quite few freebies with knackered IRD'S around and owners have removed the propshaft rather than fix the problem, just running in 2wd.

Alot of the Horror stories are over exaggerated by hearsay, if you know a bit about land rovers and you check any purchase well b4 parting with any money.
You should end up with a good little Land Rover that is far more capable off road than many think and will serve any family well.

Take it from someone who actually owns a Freelander ! - they are a good All round 4x4.

Gordo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2009, 22:54:56 »

Quote from: mill2020 on March 05, 2009, 21:47:38

Take it from someone who actually owns a Freelander ! - they are a good All round 4x4.

+1

I use mine off road, tow with it and as a general run-about and it's great. Mill has covered the main things to look at - Td4s go for a premium over the petrol, but if the head gasket upgrade has been done you shouldn't have too much to worry about.

A friend of mine was selling one (petrol) for not a huge sum. I can ask if it's still around.

The people who are knocking them are only jealous :)

nellyscossy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2009, 07:51:44 »

gettin nowhere fast here!!!!

i know everyone has opinions but the facts are what matter.......example i currently have a bmw 528i sport..lovely german build quality and nearly forty grand new..........i have never spent so much on a piece of s**t car that has done nothing but go wrong........my previous motor was a bmw 523sei....same as!!!!!!!!!!....maybe not all bmws are like that ..but i'lll never own another.......

so i thought rather than lose thousands of pounds i thought id downgrade to a simple freelander......dosent seem that simple now!!!!

JimP · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2009, 08:39:09 »

Had a Freelander for about 4 years, had a couple of problems, namely the clutch going, but on the whole it was a great all round car.

Good for towing my caravan, good for my dogs, comfortable, did 90 down the motorway no problem [-X

I had the TD4, on a 52 plate, you can get them for around £2500 now which to be fair isn't bad at all!

I didn't off road it very much, only light stuff, but what I did it did easily

I'd recommend one, definetly

Jim

V8MoneyPit · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2009, 09:52:51 »

Quote from: nellyscossy on March 06, 2009, 07:51:44

gettin nowhere fast here!!!!

i know everyone has opinions but the facts are what matter.......example i currently have a bmw 528i sport..lovely german build quality and nearly forty grand new..........i have never spent so much on a piece of s**t car that has done nothing but go wrong........my previous motor was a bmw 523sei....same as!!!!!!!!!!....maybe not all bmws are like that ..but i'lll never own another.......

so i thought rather than lose thousands of pounds i thought id downgrade to a simple freelander......dosent seem that simple now!!!!

Ultimately, it doesn't make any difference what you buy. Sometimes you'll get a good 'un. Other times things will go wrong.

mill2020 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2009, 11:29:07 »

Basically what V8money pit said, If you like the freelander and it will suit your family/personal needs - buy one.

If not, look for something else. They will be bad examples of every car model on the road, take your time and buy a good en, there are plenty good examples out there for reasonable money.

Its quite wrong of those people who are so quick to slate a vehicle when they don't own one, take the Discovery for example, many earlier models are riddled with rust and need new boot floors or some amount of body repair. But any disco owner will tell you they are a great 4x4 and would urge you to buy one if asked.

Each to there own gentlemen............

LiftedDisco · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2009, 18:37:30 »

Can you stretch to a Freelander 2?

The Fun Prevention Officer has one and reckons it's the dogs dangly bits - this is from someone who is either stationary or flat out...

She'll use my Disco off road, but prefers the F2 to my Audi if we are anywhere else.

Can't fault the F2 though...

propes · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2009, 18:47:40 »

It's not quite wrong to voice an opinion at all as this is an open forum for people to do just that. I personally dont own a freelander,never would, never will. I also dont own a bull mastif but know i would'nt have one as they have a penchant for ripping the faces off kids.I do know 3 people who have/had freelanders, ones a ponce with a v6 who thinks he is colin mcrae and rightly he's had trouble with that on a "v" plate. Another had a 1.8 and was so fed up with it he was going to set fire to it. Unfortunately the last aquaintance bought a 1.8 really nice condition without asking me before he got it and guess what? ~He's having trouble firstly leaking gearbox and sunroof and now a steering rack... you do the maths!

Drift · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2009, 19:49:55 »

Has any one here had a Discovery,Range Rover or any other Land Rover break or any other 4x4 for that matter , hell any other car even????

No.... oh well Ill shut up then

propes · « **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2009, 20:07:32 »

My classic range rover has never broken down or rusted and never got stuck and makes me irresistable to women everywhere. :roll: Bloke who owns the v6 freelander over the road just looks a k*ob. Only joking (not)

carbore · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2009, 21:11:31 »

Pulled my car trailer out the field with mine today, Got 65k on it never missed a beat. Off roaded every day as I live down a green lane. Very comfy. Towed my Grey Fergie home nicley

I have a Late TD4 SE black, half leather, six disc CD winter pack etc etc. If I lived in a quarry then id buy a defender, but I dont, I live on a farm and the Freelander is ideal.

Wouldnt get a 1.8k unless I know it had stat move mod, K series is unreliable if not modified in any car (old landy who ran the golf club I palyed at had a HGF in her rover 400)

TDi90 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2009, 08:58:01 »

Quote from: Drift on March 06, 2009, 19:49:55

Has any one here had a Discovery,Range Rover or any other Land Rover break or any other 4x4 for that matter , hell any other car even????

No.... oh well Ill shut up then

Yes :roll:

Jas278 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2009, 09:35:41 »

Had 2 , enjoyed ownership of both , Mine s a commercial and I use it for work , taking the dogs out , going out ...good all round vehicle ...as pointed out you will get good uns and bad uns of everything..

ChrisV8 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2009, 16:51:37 »

I wouldn't buy one myself, some have good service out of them but too many probs with transmission as well as the petrol engine. The Beemer engine has a few issues as well according to my local LR man.

My advice go buy a JEEP, I bought a Patriot has VW running gear etc etc so far absolutely 100%, returns superb mpg does everything I want, I don't use it on the bumpy stuff I have my old RR for that. The discounts are good and still way cheaper than a Freebie 2.

carracarra13 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2009, 18:38:49 »

well Im going to throw a spanner in the work hear, If id listned to some pepole like I did Id never of bought a landrover full stop.
Ive had 2 japs, i frountera (cant even tell u how much trouble that was) but the old disco chuffed with so far so it just shows theres good and bad in all makes, and my m8 whs got an early frbee says it does the job he wanted it to and more (130000 miles of farm abuse) and just done the head gasket and three clutches (but he says that is down to towing BIGGER things on the farm that it was built for)

Gordo · « **Reply #21 on:** March 07, 2009, 19:16:08 »

Quote from: ChrisV8 on March 07, 2009, 16:51:37

My advice go buy a JEEP, I bought a Patriot has VW running gear etc etc so far absolutely 100%, returns superb mpg does everything I want, I don't use it on the bumpy stuff I have my old RR for that. The discounts are good and still way cheaper than a Freebie 2.

I looked at a Patriot before buying the Freelander, and you get a lot of car for the money. Unfortunately they lack ground clearance, and the dealer was at pains to point out that it is not an off road 4x4.

Apart from the stupid name, they're certainly something to consider.

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AuthorTopic: thinking of buying a freelander..any advice (Read 1349 times)

Drift